Deaths Rise to 659 as Covid-19 Cases Spike to 37,218

Kenya has recorded 139 more Covid-19 positive cases in the last 24 hours as the country’s total caseload rises to 37,218.During the daily Covid-19 briefing at Afya House on Tuesday, September 22, Health CAS Mercy Mwangangi announced that 1,774 samples had been tested over the period.Of the positive cases, 125 are Kenyans and 14 are foreigners.112 are male and 22 are female while the youngest case is a 4-year-old child and the oldest is aged 82.In county distribution, Nairobi leads with 46 cases followed by Kisumu (44), Mombasa (9), Kajiado (9), Kiambu (9) and Kericho (9).Laikipia county had four cases, Machakos (3), Nakuru (2) while Garissa, Kirinyanga, Kisii, Meru, Makueni Embu and Turkana all had one case each.At the same time,198 patients were discharged, 46 from home-based care and 152 from hospitals around the country bringing the total number of recoveries to 24,147.Regrettably, nine patients succumbed to the disease bringing the total number of deaths to 659.CAS Mwangangi stated that families could now participate in burial rites with Ministry of Health officials present only to observe.”Families will now take the centre stage at burial ceremonies. Members will be allowed to conduct safe burail rites according to their norms, cultural and religious beliefs.”Members without increased risk of Covid-19 outcomes shall safely conduct the last rites and are recommended to use PPEs,” she stated. Family and friends gather for the burial of Kenya’s first medic victim of Covid-19 Dr Doreen Adisa Lugaliki at Ndalu village, Tongaren sub-county in Bungoma County.K24 Digital Noting that the change of burial protocol was informed by the World Health Organisation (WHO), CAS Mwangangi advised for all safety protocols to be observed with those with underlying conditions not recommended to participate in activites such as pallbearing.Director of Public Health Dr Francis Kuria added that embalming of bodies would not be allowed.”Contact with fluids will be avoided. Public health officers to ensure the protocols are observed. Cultural practices that encourage interaction with dead bodies are prohibited”Administrators should be notified of any death. Public health officials to supervise the whole process, including where the body will be interred. You will not be seeing the men in white,” he stated.More to follow…